Reward Offered After Zoo's Monkey Stolen

February 18, 2002|Staff Reports

Loxahatchee

A squirrel monkey was missing Sunday from Lion Country Safari after someone broke into its cage late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

One of the primate handlers noticed a lock missing from the outside door of the squirrel monkey exhibit about 9 a.m. Sunday. It appeared someone had cut through an outer door and released a latch on an interior door that leads to the monkey habitat, said Lion Country Safari spokeswoman L.J. Margolis.

The keeper also noticed that the other animals in the habitat were huddled around the door and acting strangely, Margolis said.

The missing monkey, a female named Charlie, was born at Lion Country Safari in 1987. She was hand-raised by zookeepers after her mother died.

Lion Country Safari is offering a reward for information leading to Charlie's return.